James McGrady was born on 8th March 1885 in Linsamore, Ireland. Records aren’t clear of McGrady’s early years, his father, still remains unidentified. For the most of his life the Irish steward was raised by his Grandmother in County Down, Ireland. Like most young men, McGrady took to sea, after trying his hand at agricultural labour. when he was 16 years old. James McGrady had worked on a not to distant relative of the RMS Titanic, the SS Oceanic, this vessel itself had an impressive sea record, launched in 1899 with a displacement tonnage of a staggering 17,272 and until 1901 remained the largest vessel ever built, only to be overtaken by the White Star Line steamship, the SS Celtic. McGrady was not the only future Titanic crew member to have served on the Oceanic. Second Officer Charles Lightoller had a served a position on the same vessel as McGrady. A handful of other Titanic’s crew members such as: sixth officer James Moody, Malmesbury Road resident; Alfred Allsop and Titanic’s convicted killer, William Mintram.
McGrady signed onto the Titanic on April 6th, 1912, just four days before she was to set sail from Southampton’s docks. James McGrady served as a steward. His role would have involved tending to any needs of the passengers. Titanic carried a total 329 stewards, with only 48 being saved. The Southampton steward was paid £3 when serving on the Oceanic and could expect a similar wage on board Titanic.
James McGrady’s last address was listed as The Platform Tavern, Southampton. To this day a plaque can be found outside the pub located on the Southampton front, dedicated the memory of the Platform Tavern’s former resident. Unfortunately, McGrady’s life was claimed on the morning of April 15th, 1912 alongside nearly 1,000 more lives. However, approximately a month later James McGrady’s body was recovered by the SS Algerine. His body was returned to Halifax by a different steamship and was buried under the headstone number #330, despite only 328 bodies being recovered. Perhaps the crew aboard the vessel, SS Florizel miscounted the number of bodies recovered from the wreckage. It has since been debated that McGrady was the last body to picked from the Atlantic waters, he was found still wearing his lifejacket.
As always, I’ll leave a few external links on the life of James McGrady. Feel free to ask any questions and let me know what you think
Have a ‘titanic’ week,
Millie
Encyclopaedia Titanica on James McGrady Hagen: https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/james-mcgrady.html
Find a Grave: James McGrady: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8873142/james-mcgrady
Genealogy on the life of James McGrady: https://www.geni.com/people/James-McGrady/6000000016058896729
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